Share This Story!

Lakeview's Dave Peterson to retire, wants to return

Lakeview School District Superintendent Dave Peterson has decided to retire at the end of this month to save his district mon, but the school leader says he retired early and wants to return to his position for one more year to save his district mone

Lakeview School District Superintendent Dave Peterson will retire at the end of this month but wants to return to his position for one more year -- a proposal he says will save his district money.

Lakeview's Board of Education approved Peterson's retirement at Monday's board meeting. His last day is June 30.

Although Peterson is formally retiring, he could still be the district's leader for the next school year. Peterson said he has offered to serve the district in some capacity next year, and wants to remain as superintendent.

Peterson said he already knew the 2016-17 school year would be his last in education. His father's death in September made him realize that if he wanted to stay connected to family, he needed time to do that. Next spring, Peterson will turn 62 years old, which he said is "fairly old" for a superintendent.

"Next spring will be 40 years in the business," Peterson said. "It's all this kind of come together that I know next year is going to be my last year."

But by retiring early and offering to return, the district could realize significant savings, Peterson said, because his salary next year would mostly be covered by other sources than district funds.

His decision to retire and the offer to return could save the district around $100,000 next school year, he said. If he remains as superintendent after he retires, his pension would kick in and the district would pay him up to a third of his current average salary. He would only stay on for one more year. Peterson said his base salary has hovered around $145,000 for several years.

"To me it's a no-brainer because if I can do it and not get hurt, and it saves the district that kind of money, why wouldn't I try to do that?" Peterson said.

Because of retirement regulations, the district school board and Peterson will not be able to discuss his proposal until July.

Moore said on Monday, the school board also evaluated Peterson's performance for the 2015-16 school year as highly effective.

Peterson said he wants to stay on at the district to see several projects and partnerships through the next year, including the district's equity work and its rapid improvement process.

"A lot of things that are in progress of being fully implemented but after one more year, (I) would feel very confident that those things would continue," Peterson said.

Assistant Superintendent of Instruction Jim Owen has been named interim superintendent. Peterson said in a letter to staff the board intends to determine a long-term plan for leadership in July,

Although he wants to stay on as superintendent, Peterson said he would open to taking on any role the district may offer him.

Peterson said his Lakeview staff is the most professional staff he has ever been associated with and that the district's school board is "light years" ahead of any other board he has worked with in his career.